What a strange, but compelling match. Yesterday's visitors, roared on by 2,000-odd travelling fans, had rather the better of 75% of the game but were undone by a mixture of offensive profligacy and defensive naivety. The Glovers, in contrast, rode their luck and took their fewer chances to earn a priceless 3 points. Such is the compressed nature of the division 3 table that was enough to take us back up to the giddy heights of 12th position on 31 points, a whole 5 points away from the relegation zone.

Yeovil took the lead with their first attack of any consequence on 6 minutes, Stefan Stam just getting enough on the ball with his header to divert it past the already committed Exeter keeper following a freekick from out wide. The visitors dominated the opening half thereafter, Marcus Stewart, Ryan Harley and Alex Russell catching the eye in particular and being at the heart of the Grecians most threatening moves. Former Glover Adam Stansfield scored a deserved equaliser on 22 minutes following good work by Harley on the left, well done to Lisa for refusing to celebrate in front of the home terrace. Skivo's new formation of 4-2-1-3 wasn't really working as intended, the 2 wide strikers Obika and Bowditch becoming more and more peripheral as the game went on. The Glovers were pumping too many long balls upfield more in hope than inspiration, and the home crowd were becoming increasingly restless, taking their frustration out on the hapless Jonathan Obika in particular. Then, with Exeter dominating, out of nowhere the Glovers fashioned their first real passing move of the half, keeping the ball on the floor and eventually moving it out wide to an overlapping Nathan Jones. The full-back's cross found Sam Williams in the box, whose shot was cleared off the line by a combination of a defender and keeper before rebounding to an unmarked Ryan Mason, who slotted home to give the Glovers a somewhat fortuitous lead. There was just time for Marcus Stewart to miss an open goal before the half-time whistle. 2-1 to the Glovers at the break.

And that was the way it stayed. The second half was more even and the longer it went on the further up the field the visitors pushed which left more gaps exposed to the home side's counter-attacks. The Grecians still had more of the ball and more of the pressure but without every really worrying Alex McCarthy overmuch in the Yeovil goal. The substitution of Keiran Murtagh for a struggling with injury Ryan Mason added more of a physical presence to the Glovers midfield, and Andy Welsh's introduction gave the Glovers genuine width for the first time in the match and an outlet on the left, which they exploited to the full. Exeter continued to have most of the ball, but with the Glovers defence standing firm and the midfield pair of Shaun MacDonald and JP Kalala mopping up everything in front of them, the real threat in the final 15 minutes was to the visitors goal, with keeper Paul Jones making several high quality saves to keep the score as it was. Goal's apart, the first half was something of a non-event. The second half had no goals, but was utterly compelling and thoroughly entertaining.

Merit marks as follows:

1. Alex McCarthy: 7/10 - Usual solid display. Maybe not quite as dominant in his box as we've seen, but coped pretty well with the vast majority of efforts Exeter were able to throw at him.

2. Craig Alcock: 6/10 - Got off to a bad start and looked out of sorts throughout the first half. Came back strongly after the break however.

4. Stefan Stam: 7/10 - Started well with the opening goal and looked more and more at ease as the game went on. Can't recall him losing a header all afternoon.

5. Steven Caulker: 7/10 - Lost track of Adam Stansfield once which led to Exeter's goal. Aside from that didn't give the Grecians a sniff. He seems to be trying to get forward with the ball on occasion, a little like Mark Shail used to, for those with long memories.

3. Nathan Jones: 7/10 - Given a bit of a torrid time defensively in the first half in particular but still had enough about him to get forward and supply the cross for the Glovers eventual matchwinner. The introduction of Andy Welsh helped him on the left after half-time, and the two combined well down the flank after the break, both defensively and in attack.

21. JP Kalala: 7/10 - Battled away manfully with partner-in-crime MacDonald despite being outnumbered in midfield. The introduction of Murtagh in the second half helped his cause.

25. Shaun MacDonald: 6/10 - Same comments as applied to Kalala. Didn't threaten the opponents goal as much as we're used to seeing from him, but that wasn't his job on the day.

13. Ryan Mason: 6/10 - Marked him up a point for scoring the winner. Showed his usual touches of class, but was a little bit peripheral to much of the action a lot of the time. May have been hampered by a slight injury and was indeed subbed on 60 minutes.

14. Dean Bowditch: 5/10 - Played as a wide striker, but didn't look particularly comfortable in the role and indeed ended up being pushed further and further back until he was more of a wide midfielder. No lack of effort from him of course, but I'm not sure we're getting the best out of him if he's not playing directly in front of goal

9. Sam Williams: 6/10 - Lead the line well, without looking particularly threatening. Too isolated most of the time, but that wasn't his fault.

26. Jonathan Obika: 4/10 - Same comments as applied to Dean Bowditch, except that his languid style could give the impression of a lack of effort, which certainly seemed to be the case to some in the crowd. Improved after the break, but rightly replaced eventually.

Substitutes:8. Keiran Murtagh (60 mins for Ryan Mason): 7/10 - Had the crowd cursing him when he chose to pass rather than shoot when in a good position shortly after coming on, but that disappointment apart did well. Added some much needed energy and presence to the midfield.

11. Andy Welsh (67 mins for Jonathan Obika): 7/10 - Added genuine width on the left and an attacking presence as well as covering Nathan Jones in defence. Strong case to start the match next time.

28. Nathan Smith (90 mins for Dean Bowditch): N/A - Not on long enough to make an impression.

I said in my preview of the Exeter game that an improved performance was the most important outcome of the match following the insipid display at Leyton Orient last Tuesday. In the event we did get that improved performance, even if most of it came later on in the second half. But I was wrong anyway. An improved performance is all very well, but at the end of the day it's points that matter. Especially when you win them against your local rivals in the division. This was the first competitive league match against Exeter we've enjoyed at Huish Park, and enjoyed is the right word. Let's hope there's many more to come in the future.

I thought it was a very strange game yesterday and there was parts of the game where I thought Exeter were going to win it. Andy Welsh made a difference and for the last 20 minutes was involved in that lovely attacking football which we should of scored many goals on. Agree with all your ratings and I don't think we were at our best yesterday by a mile. Exeter were at the same level as us though I thought for most of the game.
But a win is a win and up we go to 12th in the table:)
24/01/2010 21:33:04

tim lancaster said ...

Didn't go to the game, however it is always interesting to listen into the away fans conversation at Yeovil Junction upon catching my regular train to work - which coincides with trains both west and east. Although the worse for drink the concensus among this group was that Exeter would struggle to stay up with Yeovil easily reaching mid-table safety. Many could not believe that there were no Yeovil fans to 'meet' them in the towns pubs or at the station, 'Yeovil have no boy's, but we have no problem with that' was one blokes take of the situation to his mate. Fair play as most of the group seemed knowledgeable and genuine City fans.
28/01/2010 19:09:40

Taff said ...

Tim, long time no see mate. Do you not go to the footy much these days then?
28/01/2010 21:30:49

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